Finance
On Tuesday, India beat Sri Lanka by two runs in the first T20I at the Wankhede Stadium in Mumbai, taking a 1-0 lead in the three-match series. Young medium pacer Shivam Mavi claimed 4-22 on debut as India defended a modest total of 162 to win by two runs.
India began 2023 with a win, thanks to good bowling from Mavi, Harshal Patel, and Umran Malik, as they defeated Sri Lanka in a last-ball thriller.
With only 162 to defend, India needed early wickets to put Sri Lanka under pressure, which they did, eventually bowling them out for 160 in 20 overs.
Shivam Mavi took two wickets in his debut match, Harshal Patel took two more, and Umran Malik took one as India dismissed five Sri Lankan batters for 68 runs. Sri Lanka skipper Shanaka and Wanindu Hasaranga added 40 runs for the sixth wicket but Mavi broke their partnership by sending back Hasaranga just as they were about to take the match away.
Hardik Pandya claimed a fine catch after returning to the field after being struck by cramps while taking a catch to send back Bhanuka Rajapaksa, as Sri Lanka slumped to 108/6 in the 15th over.
But Shanaka remained the dangerman, hitting Harshal Patel for a six and four in the 16th over to take Sri Lanka to 34 needed off 20 balls. He gave Umran Mailk the same treatment in the next over, but the young pacer had the last laugh when Chahal caught the Sri Lanka captain in the deep in the same over, putting the final nail in the Sri Lankan coffin.
However, there was one more twist in the match as Chamika Karunaratne blasted two sixes to take Sri Lanka to the final over needing 13 runs. Karunaratne carted Axar Patel for a six after bowling a wide before Kasun Rajitha was run out off the fifth ball, going for a second run.
Sri Lanka required four runs off the final delivery, but Karunaratne was unable to hit him out, and Dilshan Madushanka was run out while attempting a second run, as India won by three runs. Mavi had made it possible for India by returning Maheesh Theekshana for one, caught by Suryakumar Yadav at long-off with a length ball outside off.
Mavi gave India the lead in his first over, claiming his first T20I wicket on debut. After being hit for back-to-back boundaries by Kusal Mendis in his first over, the young bowler showed great character by striking. In his second over, Mavi came back strongly and dismissed Nissanka, sending one through the game to rattle the stumps.
Dhananjaya de Silva was his second victim, as he got the batter to spoon a slower catch to Sanju Samson.
Earlier, Deepak Hooda and Axar Patel combined for a quick-fire half-century partnership as India reached 162/5 in 20 overs after being put in to bat by Sri Lanka skipper Dasun Shanaka, who won the toss.
Hooda hit 41 off 23 balls, hitting one boundary and four sixes, while Patel hit 31 off 20 balls (three fours and one six) as India recovered from 94/5 in the 15th over to post a respectable total.
Brief scores: India – 162/5 in 20 overs (Deepak Hooda 41 not out, Axar Patel 31 not out, Ishan Kishan 37, Hardik Pandya 29; Chamika Karunaratne1-22, Maheesh Theekshana 1-29) defeated Sri Lanka 160 all out in 20 overs (Dasun Shanka 45, Chamika Karunaratne 23 not out; Shivam Mavi 4-22, Harshal Patel 2-41, Umran Malik 2-27) by two runs
Source:OCN
